The Blue Moon

[Rampage]

<< Spellbinder hesitated...and then...sensing that she should just do as she was told in this situation...she quickly hid behind another pillar, with a few statues near by, hopefully adding to her cover.>>

<< She felt like her heart beat was as loud as the crashes of thunder outside. But that was just her own fear magnifying her body's symphony of fright inside of her.>>

Oh Nicolas....she's TERRIFYING!

I know. Stay hidden and be ready to run.

He HAD to find her, but Morgan's fear was DEAFENING. It allowed Medusa to stay ONE step ahead for a few moments but he finally FOUND her...oh NO!!

<< As Rampage reorients himself...he is overwhelmed with PANIC. Not his...but SPELLBINDER'S. Chimes sound off...>>

NICOLAS.....HELP ME!!!

<< He turns...as the WIND seems to SCREAM all around him... to find Spellbinder...and MEDUSA, who had silently lowered herself down, slithering down the pillar and now having spiraled herself AROUND the pillar...AND Spellbinder, trapping her TIGHTLY. PAINFULLY crushing her!>>

<< Spellbinder's heart rate, her mental processes...they are ALL in a state of PANIC, bordering on CATATONIA.>>

Spellbinder....Close your eyes! RIGHT NOW! Don't open them for ANY REASON!

She was being crushed and she was panicking.

<< Spellbinder shuts her eyes TIGHTLY...her face is contorted in fear and anguish...her teeth chattering....as Medusa slowly and silent twists around, leaning her upper body in close to Morgan, her face and her dreadful SNAKE hair now RIGHT beside Spellbinder's terrified, closed eyes and face. Spellbinder's breathing is erratic...even as Medusa seems to look upon her with curiosity, SAVORING this moment.>>

<< Medusa hisses and then her face CONTORTS into a terrifying demonic visage, her eyes glowing a spectral BLUE/WHITE, that same light emitting from her opened, fanged MOUTH as well. ALL of the snakes that comprise her "hair" are following suit as well as she ATTACKS Spellbinder with her most terrifying power, the power to turn a person to STONE with one look! But spellbinder keeps her eyes shut TIGHTLY, CRYING OUT with terror.>>


<< Rampage's AXE called to him to be drawn as Medusa took a moment to inspect the nearly catatonic Spellbinder. If Rampage didn't connect with her via their telepathic rappor NOW, it would be too late. She would be completely unresponsive. He SHOUTS to get her attention, to SNAP her out of being COMPLETELY carried away by the wave of primal panic! >>

SPELLBINDER! LISTEN TO MY VOICE! ON MY MARK, TELEPORT! USE YOUR POWER & DISC AWAY! DON'T LET GO ...HOLD ON TO MY VOICE! 1.....2....3 GO! NOW!

<< Spellbinder's SCREAM is accented by a CRASH of thunder and mystic chimes...the kind that were heard the night the INFERNO began. A FLASH of light heralds the opening of a stepping disc! She TELEPORTS...the disc closes, she is GONE.>>

<< Medusa falls down but is IMMEDIATELY upright again, having FAILED to petrify Spellbinder, she IMMEDIATELY moves to turn and attack RAMPAGE, to claim HIM as another one of her trophies.>>

<< Here she COMES...in all of her ancient, unholdy, deadly gorgon FURY!>>

Morgan was safe, and free. And he would not let this moment pass again.

With a roar of fury Nicolas moves impossibly fast, eyes closed as the psionic had no need of them.

As Medusa attempted to gaze upon him he grabbed her tail, slamming her twice to the ground with it. Her roars became screams with the pain as Nicolas seemed to be everywhere at once, hitting and blasting the beast as he roared back in defiance, doing a deadly dance with the shadows in the room. His shadows extended farther as Nicolas went to an even darker place with the increasingly wounded Gorgon. His voice was nearly unrecognizable as completely his own. It almost sounded like someone ELSE. Someone familiar as he ROARED his displeasure and dealt out punishment.

*broken right elbow*

You should have never sided with the witch against Spellbinder.

*axe chops off part of her tail*

You should have never faced us.

Nicolas drops his axe inexplicably, the clatter drew the wounded beasts' attention... and he fell upon her back from above and pulled her head with his right hand...

AND YOU SHOULD HAVE NEVER TOUCHED A HAIR ON HER HEAD IN MY PRESENCE!!!

Nicolas punches his hand THROUGH her chest with his left hand and lifts up, separating Medusa's head from her body. Removing his coat quickly he wraps it around the severed head and reached for his axe, using it to chop the rest of the body in half again before stopping. He was breathing heavily, his fury barely satiated. He looked at Spellbinder and paused.

Are you OK?

 

[Artemis]

Observatory

"Firebird! Prophet!! Hold until I say different, stay with the witches and hand tight!!"

Mike threw out what looked to be three strange disks under the creature. After a second, the three disks discharged electricity that arced into the creature, damaging the right forelimb and appearing to stun it a little. Arsenal fired hellfire at the other forelimb and motioned for Charope to flank it so as to limit exposure to its beams as they wore it down.

:: Alycia nodded, already running to a new position to help PRESS their attack and advantage.::

:: The creature was so TALL and despite its gangly appearence...it's mana was INCREDIBLE. For each moment of PAIN it was dealt, delaying it from what it considered to be its rightful MEAL, it would respond with more and more agression and savage instinct.::

It will attack Michael the MOMENT it manages to fight its way through the pain of those discs and that BLAST of hellfire. that it can even SURVIVE the hellfire speaks to its unique and hearty physical constitution! I MUST press our advantage while there's still TIME!

:: holding up her hand, a silver "moon" halo forms around it and her bracelet as once more, the Silver Bow, a gift presented to her by the Amazons, blessed by Artemis herself and further augmented with the power to fire "arrows" made of Zeus' divine lightning, manifests into her grasp::


With my hunter's eye....i must now STRIKE!

:: The creature LURCHED forward....finally standing tall again...ROARING with such ANGER that it made even the AIR tremble. It takes a DEADLY SWIPE at Arsenal with one of its scythe blade arms::

ARSENAL, GET DOWN!

:: As he DUCKS being cut in HALF, She locks on to her target area with her hazel eyes, standing with perfect form, she releases a shaft bolt of zeus' divine lightning, it flies through the air, zooming with deadly accuracy, CRASHING into the creature's exposed chest cavity area, hitting it's LUNGS.::

:: The creature seems to VIBRATE as image trails of its form spread out on either side...it SPASMS as the divine lightning attacks and BURNS in and around it's lungs.::

:: Without moving, knowing that Prophet and Firebird can strike long distance, She calls out to them, yelling above the creature's rage.::

ARSENAL, you and Firebird fire upon it's HEART. PROPHET, you and I will fire upon it's HEAD!

:: She counts on Arsenal realizing the same thing she did about Prophet and Firebird having the benefit of being able to strike long distance.::

ON MY MARK!

1!

2!

:: The creature prepars to attack with a spinning MULTI-BLADE assault against them all!::

3!!!!! NOW!!!

:: leaping up into the air from her position, with her amazonian power allowing to jump up to 12 feet from a standing position, she once again takes aim with her hazel eyes and now in the air with perfect form and a smooth movement, FIRES another shaft bolt of zeus' divine lightning at the creature's head from a 9 o'clock position!::

 

[Arsenal]

OK...so he primarily pissed it off. Alrighty then.

It immediately turned to try to swipe at him, with Charope yelling a warning. He rolled away while manifesting his energy shield from his gauntlet. Charope hit it with the lightning and burned a hole in its lungs. She apparently had a plan.

ARSENAL, you and Firebird fire upon it's HEART. PROPHET, you and I will fire upon it's HEAD!

:: She counts on Arsenal realizing the same thing she did about Prophet and Firebird having the benefit of being able to strike long distance.::

ON MY MARK!

1!

2!

:: The creature prepars to attack with a spinning MULTI-BLADE assault against them all!::

3!!!!! NOW!!!

:: leaping up into the air from her position, with her amazonian power allowing to jump up to 12 feet from a standing position, she once again takes aim with her hazel eyes and now in the air with perfect form and a smooth movement, FIRES another shaft bolt of zeus' divine lightning at the creature's head from a 9 o'clock position!::

As Charope moved so did Arsenal, leaping up one side of a column and propelling himself into position as he took aim and delivered a half-dozen hellfire-flavored salvos to the wound that the amazon left in its chest...

 

[Firebird]

Melt his heart

Firebird quickly glanced back at the three witches...their effort was magnificent but she could sense they were beginning to tire...WEAKEN. Their power reserves were already low to begin with because of this blue moon...how much longer could they stand and what could the REST of the group do when they couldn't stand anymore?? The fire elemental showed signs of concern, when she soon heard Arsenal's voice telling her to stay where she was and keep the witches in her sight.

She remained focused, watching Charope and Arsenal strike at the creature. It would not completely fall! She narrowed her eyes as Arsenal dodged being sliced up and Charope zapped it with a bolt of zeus' lightning.

She surveyed the creature with her apple green eyes, studying it...and noticed that many parts of its freakishly tall body were exposed. Despite it's power, it had alot of open areas....

"Prophet...it's getting too close to them, despite their attacks on it...we better..."

:: Without moving, knowing that Prophet and Firebird can strike long distance, She calls out to them, yelling above the creature's rage.::

ARSENAL, you and Firebird fire upon it's HEART. PROPHET, you and I will fire upon it's HEAD!

:: She counts on Arsenal realizing the same thing she did about Prophet and Firebird having the benefit of being able to strike long distance.::

ON MY MARK!

Nodding with agreement, Firebird once again rose off the ground, staying in her position, just now a few feet in the air to have a better, CLEAR shot at her target spot! She focuses her concentration as the glowing red fire aura forms around her feminine figure.

1!

2!

:: The creature prepars to attack with a spinning MULTI-BLADE assault against them all!::

Firebird strikes a pose and takes AIM

3!!!! NOW!!!

"BURN!"

Now posed to strike, she ATTACKS! unleashing a powerful projectile BLAST that slams into the creature's HEART.

 

[Prophet]

Minerva's Observatory

Charope and Arsenal were working perfectly as the first line of defense, with Cameron paying close attention the battle technique that Alycia had displayed. She was brave and calculated and dead on the money. She had seen their only window of opportunity and called the group into action.

ARSENAL, you and Firebird fire upon it's HEART. PROPHET, you and I will fire upon it's HEAD!

:: She counts on Arsenal realizing the same thing she did about Prophet and Firebird having the benefit of being able to strike long distance.::

ON MY MARK!

1!

2!

:: The creature prepars to attack with a spinning MULTI-BLADE assault against them all!::

3!!!!! NOW!!!

Within a flash, Cameron's katana disappeared from his hands as his body became charged with his energy signature which crackled a bright and electric. The energy began to become centered into the palms of his hand as he thrusts his hands out with great intensity.

"AAAAAHHH!!!"

Prophet had released a Psychokinetic BIO BLAST! An enormously powerful energy blast that is generated from the body's extrasensory potential that packed an incredibly POWERFUL concussive force and was one of Prophet's most deadly of attacks as the energy COURSED in a crackling hue of RED hurling itself with GREAT speed at the HEAD of the WRAITH itself.

 

[Seer]

and then

<< Charope, Arsenal, Prophet and Firebird strike for their LIVES against the creature, giving it LITTLE time to fully assert itself from the earlier attacks by Charope and Arsenal. Charope's plan pays off, each each of them attacks with a fury and urgency that fuels their individual attacks to a KILLING degree.>>

<< The wraith's head EXPLODES...as does his heart! it's body writhing and spasming, irradiated with the individual energies from the power signatures of all four attacks>>

<< As it's body FALLS, forcing all of them to dodge its crashing to the ground...it SPATTERS into horrid, disguting WORM like creatures, which in turn melt down into orbs of dark matter and fade away...the wraith has been destroyed...but its screams seemed to segue into another ROCKING blast of THUNDER as the air and space around them warps and trembles.>>

<< Glowing dark purple TENDRILS begin to lick out , down, UP, from the side...ALL OVER...and around...cracking and SNAPPING with the force and power of a whip times 10! the strikes are enough to slice at and THROUGH metal objects around the room, forcing the four to evade and dodge as the tendrils begin to lash out at them>>

<< The SCREAMS of undead spirits of the underworld now fill the room and Circe's unholy voice with its haunting resonance can be heard.>>

 

[Circe]

Pushing back

HEAR ME VAIN AND FOOLISH MORTALS!

YOU DARE TO COMPARE YOUR POWER TO MINE!?

YOU WILL REPENT YOUR BOAST, PAYING FOR THIS AFFRONT WITH YOUR LIVES...YOUR SOULS!

YOUR TWISTED SOULS FOR MY AMUSEMENT WILL LIGHT MY PATH TO EARTH AS I WALK ACROSS A BRIDGE MADE OF YOUR BROKEN BODIES! AND I WILL DO SO, IN THE BODY OF SPELLBINDER, WHICH I WILL POSSESS AFTER I CRUSH HER SKULL!


:: Her voice even drowns out Harbinger, Shadow Weaver and Isis' efforts at this brief moment during THEIR battle::

YOUR WITCHES WILL FAIL. THEIR POWER WILL BUCKLE AND BREAK AND I WILL CRACK THIS AERIE IN TWO FROM THE TOP TO THROUGH THE BOTTOM OF ITS FOUNDATION AS I EMERGE VICTORIOUS!


:: Her wicked laughter is carried by the winds and thunder as the dark purple shadow tendrils once again spiral out and STRIKE at the members of the six with FRENZY before the begin to swirl around the room, stacking up from floor to the ceiling and swirling in UNISON, coming together to form a dark purple shadow DOME INSIDE of the observatory, shapped to the internal structure::

YOU FOUR WILL DIE HERE IN THIS ROOM.... CRUSHED LIKE THE INSECTS THAT YOU ARE! AND I WILL FEED ON THE SOULS OF YOUR BROKEN, DEFEATED WITCHES!


:: And with that, Circe's broadcast ends, as she continues to BATTLE AGAINST the defense of Harbinger, Shadow Weaver and Isis. For more than a little while, the trio had pushed BACK against her, gaining ground...but NOW, their power was beginning to FADE, while HER'S was still plenty, with more to draw on this night of the blue moon. It would not be long NOW...and she began to push BACK in her assault against them.::

 

[Seer]

And so

<< The danger escalates as now Charope, Arsenal, Prophet and Firebird, along with Harbinger, Shadow Weaver and Isis, are TRAPPED in the observatory. The Witches CAN'T disengage...and the other four have no way to escape THROUGH the dark purple shadow energy that has now changed from violent tendrils into a DOME form within the observatory>>

<< The form is now shrinking....CLOSING IN on them. They have no choice but to try to FIGHT BACK against it, or even somehow break through! But can even these 4 summon enough power to do that? Their physical and/or psychic powers against the violent magicka power of a rogue goddess level sorceress?>>

<<FLASH!>>

<< Zooming in for a 360 view of Harbinger, Shadow Weaver and Isis. The three witches are locked in an INTENSE struggle against Circle. A battle of WILLS, a battle of MAGICKS, a battle for the fate of not just this island, the mansion and the lives therein...but the WORLD, which would soon run red with fear, terror, violence and BLOOD in a new horrific age of a terrible and glorous CIRCE, wearing the form of SPELLBINDER!? such an outcome was too terrible to imagine...and so ALL in the observatory and even elsewhere in the mansion placed more than a bit of their URGENT hope and desperation in the efforts of these 3 to defend this place from Circe's unrelenting onslaught...but the battle would soon take a turn for the worst....>>

--------------------------------------------------

<< Astral Plane, manifesting in the form of Athena's fully glorious Parthenon>>

<< Delilah comes face to face with Hecate and Athena. Both goddess look as beautiful and/or terrifying as Delilah might remember, but something is different, particularly with Hecate. Through this whole caper, Delilah has been largely kept unaware of many things, that has been part of the problem.>>

<< The time had come for at least SOME things to be set right, and that was where the goddesses came into the equation. But first, Delilah would have to understand that she was, in fact DEAD and how she came to be that way. Would she understand? Would she be able to go back? Her baby, Bishop and so much more hung in the balace...as did her own fate.>>

----------------------------------------------------

<< The Underworld>>

<< Rampage has not only humilated and defeated, but utterly DESTROYED the terrifying gorgon titan, Medusa. As Medusa terrorized Spellbinder and tried to turn her to stone, Rampage showed Medusa she was not the ONLY one who could be violent & terrible. But even as the terrifying visage of SET seemed to make itself more apparent in Nicolas during his attack on the monster, it became clear it was just in THAT moment. He was still himself, still in control. He had come far, just as Spellbinder...and if ONE thing became clear during this terrifying and violent encounter with Medusa, it was that BOTH of them cared deeply for one another. In spite of her crippling FEAR, she stepped forward to help Nicolas when he needed it most. In spite of his true heriage...he did not let the legacy of SET overrun him, but rather he used that power to OVERPOWER a creature that had, for centuries, gone unchecked, undefeated. The terrifying era of MEDUSA was at long last, OVER.>>

<< Nicolas would earn SUPREME favor with Athena for this, not to mention the other goddesses in the Olympian pantheon and what of the Egyptian pantheon, where ISIS hails from? Well in order to know THAT, Spellbinder and Rampage will have to continue on to the final, most deadly part of this journey....to face the rogue witch at the center of it all...CIRCE. For the MOMENT, in the immediate aftermath of Medusa's defeat and destruction, Rampage now searches for Spellbinder, finding her sitting in a dark far corner of the auditorium...more statues nearby...she is drawn up, with her arms wrapped arond her legs. She's still trembling. In these few precious moments of the aftermath...Spellbinder and Rampage BOTH are able to calm down and find comfort in one another...secure in the knowledge that they're in this TOGETHER, just as the goddesses wanted and hoped for. >>

<< Let us continue to WATCH....>>

 

[Rampage]

Nicolas dropped the package. He did not presently see Spellbinder. His form settled as he scanned the room, finally finding her in a far corner...trembling. He walked over to where she sat in a ball and took a knee, reaching out to caress her face. The link was still open and he could feel the palpable fear she still had for the Gorgon, snakes, and their predicament. His form became less fearsome as he 'spoke' telepathically...

Oh Morgan...the beast is gone thanks to you helping me. That took a lot of courage, a lot of care on your part. THANK you.

As he started to stand Rampage reached out and pulled the sorceress to her feet into a hug.

 

[Prophet]

Minerva's Observatory - Thunderdome

<< The danger escalates as now Charope, Arsenal, Prophet and Firebird, along with Harbinger, Shadow Weaver and Isis, are TRAPPED in the observatory. The Witches CAN'T disengage...and the other four have no way to escape THROUGH the dark purple shadow energy that has now changed from violent tendrils into a DOME form within the observatory>>

<< The form is now shrinking....CLOSING IN on them. They have no choice but to try to FIGHT BACK against it, or even somehow break through! But can even these 4 summon enough power to do that? Their physical and/or psychic powers against the violent magicka power of a rogue goddess level sorceress?>>

They had defeated the Wraith based on the accurate and astute observations of Charope and the combined and fluid movements of all FOUR of them. It was incredible, these four people with VARIED histories were often NOT members of the Six who were at the FOREFRONT of battle. Far too often these battles came down to Spellbinder of Black Widow and even Harbinger. In this moment, these four were the ONLY hope Alison, Dominique and Karen had to protect them and keep them safe long enough to buy Morgan and Nicolas the time that they so desperately needed.

The energy swirled together creating a DOME around all of them, a dome that was CLOSING in on them slowly but surely. Cameron was perplexed for a moment. For as effective as this FOUR were, they were not magick users and two of the members, though EXTREMELY well prepared for battle, were mostly physical fighters.

"Okay..Circe wants a Thunderdome? We give her a Thunderdome. I need everyone to get as close to Isis, Harbinger and Shadow Weaver WITHOUT getting in their sacred space..."

He waits as the groups takes their positions, flanking the women.

"Firebird, I need you to shoot your MOST DEADLY attack STRAIGHT up into the air, and KEEP IT HOT. Charope? I need the HIGHEST charge of lightning you can pack, MULTIPLE shots if you have the time.. and ARSENAL? Whatever FIREPOWER you got, you do the same thing. When all that's swirling in the air, I'm enclosing us ALL in a telekinetic dome augmented by the use of my katana. There is NO escaping for us, even if we crack a hole in this thing, we can't leave the Sorceress' behind. This it it..

Prophet looked up at the swirling and ominous purple dome, closing in.

"We just have to buy enough time for MORGAN to get done what she gets done. I can feel my sister is wearing down. WE just have to maintain, the rest of this in the hands of Spellbinder...So do your WORST and MAINTAIN it..."

Prophet looked at each of them, gaining a respect he had not had before.

"READY? GO...."

 

[MorningStar]

Athena's Parthenon

Delilah was surprised by the arrival of another presence.

“Athena!”

Athena was the one goddess that Delilah actually respected, but her appearance here with Hecate was troubling.

“How did I get here? What do you want with me? Where are the others?”

Delilah’s mind was still foggy, but it was beginning to clear. She knew something was not right. She looked at Hecate. It hadn't been a year since she had seen her on Aerie, since Hecate had tricked her by bringing Bishop back to life. And she hadn't been sorry about it at all. Not one bit. She had even come back and she was SO nasty to Delilah about…

“Oh my god.”

Her hand flew to her mouth. She frantically started looking around her, her breathing becoming rapid as she hyperventilated.

“What am I doing here?! Where’s my baby?!”

 

[Arsenal]

The Wraith falls. GOOD. Kicking ass is fun.

Then a purple dome of magic forms from that was lashing at them wildly and powerfully. Sometimes magic sucks.

The purple dome sealed them in and then began to close. Prophet had an idea that involved them flooding the walls with ordinance. He apparently needed Arsenal to throw whatever he has at the walls while he sealed them in.

"Firebird, I need you to shoot your MOST DEADLY attack STRAIGHT up into the air, and KEEP IT HOT. Charope? I need the HIGHEST charge of lightning you can pack, MULTIPLE shots if you have the time.. and ARSENAL? Whatever FIREPOWER you got, you do the same thing. When all that's swirling in the air, I'm enclosing us ALL in a telekinetic dome augmented by the use of my katana. There is NO escaping for us, even if we crack a hole in this thing, we can't leave the Sorceress' behind. This it it..

Prophet looked up at the swirling and ominous purple dome, closing in.

"We just have to buy enough time for MORGAN to get done what she gets done. I can feel my sister is wearing down. WE just have to maintain, the rest of this in the hands of Spellbinder...So do your WORST and MAINTAIN it..."

Prophet looked at each of them, gaining a respect he had not had before.

"READY? GO...."

Arsenal threw out several balls from a pocket by his hip. Each of them is a thermobaric weapon, and once he uses Madelyn to ignite one, a fireball erupts up the walls as Prophet puts up a shield. The bombs are MUCH more energetic than anyone suspected, and when the others look at him, he shrugs.

Hell, my name IS Arsenal. What did you EXPECT?

 

[Spellbinder]

Getting to Circe

Nicolas dropped the package. He did not presently see Spellbinder. His form settled as he scanned the room, finally finding her in a far corner...trembling. He walked over to where she sat in a ball and took a knee, reaching out to caress her face. The link was still open and he could feel the palpable fear she still had for the Gorgon, snakes, and their predicament. His form became less fearsome as he 'spoke' telepathically...

Oh Morgan...the beast is gone thanks to you helping me. That took a lot of courage, a lot of care on your part. THANK you.

As he started to stand Rampage reached out and pulled the sorceress to her feet into a hug.

<< Spellbinder kept her eyes shut even as she HEARD the moment Rampage decapitating Medusa. She heard the disgusting sound and the death throws and spasms of Medusa’s now headless body. >>

<<Medusa had touched Spellbinder. The witch could feel her centuries old EVIL as her serpentine body constricted her. There was a moment where Morgan could have completely shut down…”checked out” into a state of catatonia as her fear spiked, but Rampage, via psi path Spellbinder had allowed, was able to anchor her with his voice just long enough to her to act in fight or flight mode. She ESCAPED Medusa’s disgusting, painful, nearly petrifying hold and Rampage swiftly defeated the monster…ending her reign of terror in this place and for Morgan.>>

<< Spellbinder allows herself to be pulled up and into Rampage’s comforting arms as she shudders. HE feels the cold eldritch armour on her right shoulder, part of her chest, her arm and hand, which grips the soul sword. But on her left side…he feels her rapidly beating heart. When she unexpectedly allowed him past her psi-screen, it was a move out of strategy, trying to avoid Medusa hearing them…but it also signaled how far she’d come in restoring her trust in him. Despite the near TIDAL WAVE of emotion and fear that she broadcast at the height of the confrontation with the terrifying gorgon, It meant more to him than she may ever know.>>

<< as her breathing regulates, She allows herself a few moments more in the sanctuary of Nicolas arms…>>

….and you saved me.


The last time I felt such a HORRID…EVIL touch…it was…

<< The both knew the answer. SET. But here she was, in the arms of that evil monster’s son. But he was no more “his father’s son” than she was “a carbon copy of Hecate.”>>

<< After a few moments of respite…>>

I think…I think that

<< she sounded more steady, like HERSELF as she pulled away from Nicolas’ embrace and composed herself>>

You’ll want to present that…

<< Gesturing to Medusa’s head, now wrapped inside of his jacket>>

…To Athena when we get through this. I have a feeling SHE will be especially pleased.

<< They leave that dark auditorium together, careful to avoid the deadly toxic blood still slowly oozing from Medusa’s decapitated body.>>

She was here at Circe’s behest. She failed in her ultimate goal to turn us both to
stone, but she also stalled us. We have to hurry! I don’t know how much longer Harbinger, my mother and Isis can protect Minerva’s aerie from Circe’s devastating spell!

<< And so they go…together. Spellbinder and her soul sword are able to sense and more accurately track Circe, using the chorus of magicks she’s directing and their flow all around the temple to help guide them. It isn’t long before they reach the throne room in the center most area of the temple. It is partially exposed to the outside sky and the dark magickal energy that is being used has been conducted with such FORCE that even LIGHTNING seems TAME compared to this.>>

<< Spellbinder and Rampage feel the air, it’s charged with evil energy….the area trembling…but the WORST of the force is being directed at the small scale, perfect replica of…>>

The mansion and island!

<< pointing to the replica, which is floating on a round platform in the air right in the center of the torrential downward cascading BLAST of dark magick>>

She’s using that as the physical manifestation to attack the island and mansion from the underworld.

<< but they notice that CIRCE herself is not right there gesturing in front of the vicious onslaught. Spellbinder’s soul sword glows and pulsates>>

I can destroy that replica with my sword, BREAKING the link and cutting THROUGH that cascading bolt of dark magick!

 

[Circe]

Circe makes the scene

Take care, little sprite. A LOT CAN HAPPEN between where you’re standing and where my center piece is!

:: WINDS whip into a frenzy as dark purple magick energy swirls in front of them to reveal, the completely revitalized, beautiful form of CIRCE!::

Welcome to my TEMPORARY residence.


:: She looks upon Spellbinder and Rampage with a truly wicked smile and a sparkle in her striking purple eyes. Her voice, with it's haunting resonance, echoes and flows with the ill tempered winds in and around the throne room::


:: A dark purple shadow tendril WHIPS out of the shadows around the throne room, LASHING at Rampage and Spellbinder enough to move them away from one another before ensnaring Spellbinder, scooping her up and lifting her away from Rampage and holding her up in the air.:

YOU, I will not damage TOO badly…since YOUR BODY is my destiny, per the prophecy of HECATE…the moon goddess AND the goddess of witchcraft. YOU usurped my rightful place of power and legacy. I will correct THAT momentarily. and THEN I will take my rightful place as RULER OVER EARTH!


:: Looking at Rampage, she smiles widely and knowingly::

As for YOU?

:: With no warning, no time, Circe IMMEDIATELY launches into a vicious attack. Thrusting both golden bangle bracelet adorned arms out, hands facing “palm out” , a large white halo with a purple border forms around her hands. Chimes sound off, thunder CRASHES as she unleashes a MASSIVE Moon Bolt (the precursor to the “eldrictch bolts” Spellbinder fires…) at Rampage. The blast would SMASH and DESTROY almost ANYTHING it collides with, leaving whatever remains irradiated with dark magick.::

 

[Hecate]

The Parthenon

<< Hecate looks over at Athena as the goddess of wisdom and war joins her. They both return their solemn gaze to Delilah, who is becoming more and more aware with each passing moment.>>

You gave birth to your baby. A girl.

But…

<< looking at Delilah’s young, perplexed face with sympathy>>

…You died during child birth.

<< the breezy air around the beautiful parthenon picks up a bit>>

 

[Athena]

The Parthenon

:: Athena nodded in solemn agreement as Hecate informed Delilah of her own fate.::

A very sad, unfortunate loss for such a bright young soul, a brave woman who has earned favor from me before and would no doubt deserve a true reward.

:: with her free hand, Athena gestures, with golden energy flowing behind the gesture before flying forward and spinning into a vortex::

You have suffered much in your life, child. Such as it always is for one who chooses to walk a path of light, wisdom and integrity…even at the cost of the approval of those around her…

Hecate: "...and sometimes even at the risk of her own personal safety."

Athena: when you came to us, by way of the immortal cross time weather witch Ororo, your soul was weighed down with guilt. Guilt that these halls had not seen since the earliest days when Zeus destroyed the titans

Hecate: "...Or the night of the first red moon."

::And in a moment of unexpected candor regarding THEMSELVES::

BOTH:... "OR NOW."


Athena: For a life of bravery and valor, protecting the weak and standing true; for having the COURAGE to follow your own heart and instincts in bearing this pregnancy to fruition, despite the curse that haunts your soul from one lifetime to the next, I offer you one of several possibilities. This vortex, is a door way to Themyscira. Pass through it, and you will be REBORN as was your fallen ally Barbara Minerva. You will join a most proud, ancient and TREASURED race of women, all of whom found favor with me in their previous lives and now in their new lives, as AMAZONS. This will BREAK the curse that has followed you, setting you free from any more “pre-destined” pain, suffering and…perhaps above all else for YOU, BETRAYAL.


:: The shining golden vortex continues to spin, making an unusual sound::

However, should you accept this path, you will have NO memory of the woman you were, the life you lead. You will never see Morgan or your friends…or your baby again.
I understand even the idea of such a thing must sound dreadful to you…but think of ALL the women before you through the passage of time, that had no say in the matter? Most amazons are women of courage, valor and wisdom who’s lives ENDED due to violence and BETRAYAL at the hands of a MAN.


::Knowing the nature of the curse on Delilah is what prompted Athena to say this as she continues to gaze upon the young mutant.::

 

[Hecate]

The Parthenon

<< Hecate holds her hand up.>>

You wouldn’t be WRONG for this. It’s a reward that only a special FEW in any given time are presented with. And you’ve certainly EARNED it…you’ve earned a REST from a lot of the pain and turmoil you suffered. Turmoil which WE [unintentionally] exacerbated when you came to us before, to alleviate your guilt about striking down Bishop

Athena: A move that was both necessary AND justified…


Hecate: Bishop has earned MY personal contempt…he was a direct threat to SPELLBINDER and for that ALONE I should strike him down. He vexed her, her friends…all that she held dear

Athena: Once…I may have found him worthy of my favor, but too often he has mistaken the wisdom to know when to act for taking action against those whom HE judges…not unlike Zeus

Hecate: ….Or….even US

<< Hecate and Athena both look at each other and nod, standing firm in this moment of candor with Delilah.>>

When Persephone and Hades betrayed and hurt me…Not to mention destroying the original trinity of the Moon


Athena: …in a most selfish, dishonorable…EGREGIOUS act violence and murder against one of her OWN in our pantheon…HER OWN MOTHER


Hecate: We ALL passed harsh judgement upon her…in so many ways. I cast the curse of the red moon…and in my anger…my longing for revenge…I allowed myself to be beseeched by CIRCE and enter a most deadly covenant, one that ended up threatening Spellbinder…all of you.


Athena: While I, instead of having empathy for Persephone, who had largely been at the mercy and cruel manipulations of Zeus AND Hades, or even intervening on her’s AND Hecate’s behalf before things occurred as they did...I violently cast Persephone out of Olympus and I FORBADE ANY Olympian , demi-god OR Amazon from EVER aiding her. I wanted her to know the terrors of the DARK. And so her lifetime has been spread across MULITPLE worlds and realities…ALL of which have seen her suffer a level of level AT LEAST equal to what she caused Hecate and the rest of the Olympian pantheon.


Hecate: But the last red moon…was a painful reminder that even WE can make harsh…RASH judgements that have lasting impact. And NOW…at this very moment…the Moon’s curse that I cast has come full circle. Circe has one chance…right now…using the displaced magick of earth under the BLUE MOON…a time when magick on earth is at it’s WEAKEST…to try to reassert herself, To possess Spellbinder’s body under my original prophecy and to walk the earth once more.


Athena: Spellbinder and my champion, Rampage, have gone to the underworld to confront her, while Harbinger, Shadow Weaver and Isis, along with the rest of your companions, wage a heartfelt, desperate battle trying to protect Minerva’s Aerie from being torn asunder by Circe’s assault. She wishes to emerge from THAT spot on earth if she is successful in killing Spellbinder and possessing her body. But that is not why you are HERE. You are here because WE gently diverted your soul’s path from where it was going, to come here. There is nothing YOU could do to alter the outcome of the battle between Circe and the Six…BUT there is something WE would like to do for you.

Hecate: Silver Swan oversaw the delivery of your baby….one that you didn’t survive. But we….I was not content to let it end that way for you


Athena: Nor I.

Hecate: We…unintentionally set events in motion when we granted your wish to “take this guilt away” regarding Bishop, not immediately knowing of the CURSE imposed upon your souls. But I did NOT grant your wish as some kind of move to trick you or harm you. You’re Spellbinder’s best friend….


Athena: ….and we feel partly responsible for what has happened to you up till this very moment. We are here to do our small part to help set things right for you. To give you the chance you DESERVE.

Hecate:…you deserve a chance to see your destiny with your eyes OPEN, full of vitality. You can either take Athena’s offer… or…WE can send you back to your [physically restored] body. Back to your life, as you know it, so that you can continue the path you choose. But we want you to know that whichever way you choose, there is no hidden consequence. We want you to choose with your heart…trusting your own instinct

Athena: As you have always done.

Hecate: Just know that we make no promises…or guarantees of ANYTHING ELSE, if you return to your own life, accept that you be able to live it as you choose and that you will be starting anew, with a fully restored body.

 

[MorningStar]

The Astral Plane - Athena's Parthenon

Delilah was frantic, as only a mother who had lost sight of her child could be. Hecate’s unusually calm voice helped to soothe her – enough that she could at least listen to what the goddesses were saying.

You gave birth to your baby. A girl.

Delilah’s eyes grew wide with wonder.

“A girl…”

But…You died during child birth.

Delilah felt so confused. She looked down at the ground, then back up.

“Died? But how could that be? This isn’t Little House on the Prairie days…I was perfectly healthy. I couldn’t just die?!”

Athena validated Hecate’s words. She was, indeed, dead. And they were offering her a choice: to become an Amazon like Barbara Minerva had, breaking the curse and leaving behind all her memories and everything she knew, or to return to her body.

To become an Amazon? To truly leave all her guilt and anguish behind? She respected the women of Themyscira, that was for sure, and Alycia and Sharon had certainly benefitted mentally from their time on the island. Perhaps they could finally give her peace. Even happiness.

Both Athena and Hecate then mentioned Bishop. She smiled to herself. He certainly had made an impression on them.

Bishop has earned MY personal contempt…he was a direct threat to SPELLBINDER and for that ALONE I should strike him down. He vexed her, her friends…all that she held dear

Delilah raised a finger.

“And also helped to save her from Millennia’s attack…being stabbed by Black’s sword himself…”

But the two continued, pointing out the parallels between their own mistakes and her’s. As Athena and Hecate spoke of their own lives, it struck Delilah how very human they were. Being immortal didn’t give them any better judgment or any smoother lives than her own, really.

Delilah was immersed in thought, listening to Athena and Hecate but also running through her choices in her mind. It was not an unpleasant way to pass the time…and strangely she felt as if she had all the time in the world.

Until they told her about Circe.

Circe has one chance…right now…using the displaced magick of earth under the BLUE MOON…a time when magick on earth is at its WEAKEST…to try to reassert herself, To possess Spellbinder’s body under my original prophecy and to walk the earth once more.

Spellbinder and my champion, Rampage, have gone to the underworld to confront her, while Harbinger, Shadow Weaver and Isis, along with the rest of your companions, wage a heartfelt, desperate battle trying to protect Minerva’s Aerie from being torn asunder by Circe’s assault.

“When did THIS happen? I haven’t been dead THAT long, have I?”

She pulled her hair back, and shook herself ready.

“That settles it then – send me back. They need me in there.”

There is nothing YOU could do to alter the outcome of the battle between Circe and the Six…

Delilah stopped. She pulled her hair loose again…realizing…

“They knew…they knew all along. I remember them whispering. At the time I thought it was because I was so fat…”

Her face was blank – shocked.

“The rush to get EVERYONE to Aerie. Why no one was that worried about Alison and Karen passing out. I can’t believe they didn’t tell me.”

Those LIARS.

…you deserve a chance to see your destiny with your eyes OPEN, full of vitality. You can either take Athena’s offer… or…WE can send you back to your [physically restored] body. Back to your life, as you know it, so that you can continue the path you choose. But we want you to know that whichever way you choose, there is no hidden consequence. We want you to choose with your heart…trusting your own instinct

As you have always done.

Delilah’s mind raced.

They hadn’t thought she could handle it. Had Bishop known? And Karen? How could they just look her in the face and LIE?! They took her – AND HER BABY – into a warzone and didn’t think to tell her a psychotic bitch with dark magick powers was HUNTING THEM?!

And MORGAN had gone off with only Nicolas to protect her. What happens if he lost control and unleashed Set again?! Had they all gone MAD?!

They would all deserve it if she used her physically restored body to kick their mentally retarded asses.

But they were her friends, her family. And they were in trouble. DANGER. Her baby – her daughter had been left all alone…she couldn’t just forget about her. Could she?

Delilah stood tall and faced the two goddesses proudly.

“Hecate, Athena – thank you for wanting to make this right. Perhaps you are not so very different from us after all. I admit I have long thought that you brought Bishop back to punish me, so I appreciate you coming to me now and affirming that wasn’t the case. You have my respect and I take the things you have said to me seriously.

“The chance to become an Amazon – it feels so right. It’s all I could have ever dreamed of being. Forgetting all the pain. Strong and free. Content. It’s an amazing gift. Thank you, thank you both."

Delilah looked down and away from them.

“But I can’t abandon them. Even if you say I can’t influence the winner of this battle, I have to try. And there are still more battles to fight.

“I can’t let my daughter grow up without a mother, the way I did. She needs me. And I know how you feel about Bishop, but he is a good man and he loves me. If there’s even a chance that we could be a family, I have to try, don’t I?

“Even if I wouldn’t remember my conscience – I remember NOW. I am not yet free of this world, so I cannot yet leave it.”

Delilah paused and took a deep breath.

“Please, send me back to my body.”

She laughed a little as she turned to Hecate.

“I guess you’re probably disappointed in me, in the choices I keep making.”

 

[Rampage]

Circe had been playing possum...finally revealing herself.

:: Looking at Rampage, she smiles widely and knowingly::

As for YOU?

:: With no warning, no time, Circe IMMEDIATELY launches into a vicious attack. Thrusting both golden bangle bracelet adorned arms out, hands facing “palm out” , a large white halo with a purple border forms around her hands. Chimes sound off, thunder CRASHES as she unleashes a MASSIVE Moon Bolt (the precursor to the “eldrictch bolts” Spellbinder fires…) at Rampage. The blast would SMASH and DESTROY almost ANYTHING it collides with, leaving whatever remains irradiated with dark magick.::

Nicolas saw the bolt and spun away, disappearing as it screamed past where he WAS....but where was he now?

He emerged behind the mad sorceress, delivering a pankration kick to the small of her back. Even with his immense strength her magic managed to buffer the blow, he could tell. But not enough as she was tossed forward violently.

You talk too fucking much Circe. Go 'way.

 

[Hecate]

The Parthenon

“Hecate, Athena – thank you for wanting to make this right. Perhaps you are not so very different from us after all. I admit I have long thought that you brought Bishop back to punish me, so I appreciate you coming to me now and affirming that wasn’t the case. You have my respect and I take the things you have said to me seriously.

“The chance to become an Amazon – it feels so right. It’s all I could have ever dreamed of being. Forgetting all the pain. Strong and free. Content. It’s an amazing gift. Thank you, thank you both."

Delilah looked down and away from them.

“But I can’t abandon them. Even if you say I can’t influence the winner of this battle, I have to try. And there are still more battles to fight.

“I can’t let my daughter grow up without a mother, the way I did. She needs me. And I know how you feel about Bishop, but he is a good man and he loves me. If there’s even a chance that we could be a family, I have to try, don’t I?

“Even if I wouldn’t remember my conscience – I remember NOW. I am not yet free of this world, so I cannot yet leave it.”

Delilah paused and took a deep breath.

“Please, send me back to my body.”

She laughed a little as she turned to Hecate.

“I guess you’re probably disappointed in me, in the choices I keep making.”

<< In a moment of unexpected FAMILIARITY from Hecate, the goddess of witch craft actually lts her head tilt back, tosses her blonde hair back and LAUGHS. Athena looks rather bemused.>>

Oh, dear Delilah....you're asking that to a person who was once DEEPLY in love with HADES.

<< Both Athena AND Bupol seemed to CRINGE at this, even Hecate knew how RIDICULOUS it sounded, but it was no less true. That was the way it was at that time.>>

I may not like Bishop. BUT I also know that YOU would not let him harm Spellbinder. She cares for you deeply. She has most of her life and My trust of YOU has ALWAYS outweighed my contempt for HIM.

<< She winks as she steps forward>>

And as for choices? Well....<< looking back at Athena, who already knew and understood>>

...the heart wants what it wants.

Sometimes it just has to be left at that when it comes to certain things.

You've made your choice and will honor your request to send you back. Your life, your destiny, your FAMILY are all waiting for you, and you will be returned with full vigor in mind and body.